Tapered Guide Wire Terminal Member for Vascular Occlusion Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide wires for re-canalizing vascular occlusions face challenges such as the need for expensive and cumbersome equipment, risk of vessel penetration, difficulty in navigating branched vessels, and issues with catheter passage due to bulbous tips or flaccid coils.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire with a terminal member that tapers to a distal leading edge portion, allowing gradual opening of occlusions, and is designed to match the cross-sectional area of the guide wire for easy catheter passage, with magnetic material for external magnetic urging to minimize vessel risk and enhance flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pointed tip is used to penetrate the occlusion, then penetration capability is improved, but the risk of vessel wall penetration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal member features a tapered configuration that transitions from a larger proximal cross-sectional area to a smaller distal tip area, creating a dynamic geometry that facilitates gradual occlusion penetration while maintaining vessel wall safety through controlled tissue engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional area of the terminal member varies along its length, with the distal tip having a smaller area than the proximal portion, creating a parameter gradient that enables effective occlusion penetration while reducing vessel wall damage risk
2Productivity
If a bulbous distal tip with large cross-sectional area is used, then occlusion penetration is facilitated, but catheter passage over the guide wire becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal member employs a tapered geometry that creates a smooth transition zone, allowing the catheter to pass over the guide wire without encountering abrupt geometric discontinuities that would impede advancement
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional area of the terminal member gradually changes from proximal to distal, creating a continuous parameter transition that facilitates both occlusion penetration and smooth catheter passage without sharp edges or abrupt expansions
3Productivity
If a helical coil extends beyond the distal end of the core wire, then penetration capability is improved, but the guide wire becomes difficult to guide through branched vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire incorporates a flexible distal portion that can bend and adapt to the complex geometry of branched vessels, maintaining guidability while preserving occlusion penetration capability through the terminal member's tapered tip
Solution Approach 2:
The guide wire is divided into distinct functional segments including a flexible distal portion and a terminal member with specific geometric features, allowing each segment to perform its optimized function independently
4Productivity
If expensive and cumbersome equipment is attached to provide a vibrating tip, then occlusion penetration is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal member's tapered geometry enables self-penetration of the occlusion through its own structural design, eliminating the need for external vibrating equipment or complex auxiliary devices to achieve penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The penetration function is extracted from the terminal member's material composition and embodied instead in its geometric configuration, removing the need for expensive specialized materials or attached equipment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The guide wire effectively penetrates and opens vascular occlusions while allowing easy passage of catheters, reduces the risk of vessel puncture, and facilitates navigation through branched vessels with enhanced flexibility and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
with magnetic material for external magnetic urging to minimize vessel risk and enhance flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A guidewire (1) for re-canalizing a vascular occlusion comprises a core wire (5) which terminates at its distal end (4) in a terminal member (7) for opening the occlusion. A helical coil sleeve (10) extends around the core wire (5) from the terminal member (7) to a location (11) along the core wire (5). The terminal member (7) defines first and second planar surface portions (13,14) which converge towards a distal transversely extending leading edge portion (8). As the terminal member (7) is urged through the vascular occlusion, the first and second surface portions (13,14) act on the occlusion to form an opening therethrough. A distal portion (28) of the core wire (5) is of spade-like configuration for facilitating bending thereof for directing the terminal member (7) out of a central major plane (35) defined by the distal portion (28) for facilitating aligning of the terminal member (7) with a branched vessel of the vascular system.